BEIRUT (Dispatches) – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday some saw "a positive, promising atmosphere” in talks over forming a new government and his office was actively engaged in contacts on the issue though these require more time.
Berri, one of the most powerful figures in the state, also said the economic situation was "very fragile” and urged everyone to "shoulder their responsibilities”, according to al-Manar TV station, which is run by the resistance movement Hezbollah.
Lebanese politicians have been unable to agree on a new power-sharing cabinet since a parliamentary election in May.
The remarks come a day after Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri said he hoped a new government would be formed after President Michel Aoun returns from a trip abroad, after all sides made concessions.
In the more than five months since a parliamentary election in May, politicians have been unable to agree a unity government that can get to work on badly needed economic reforms.
"There are concessions from all sides, including the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM),” Hariri told reporters.
"We hope for the formation of a government after the return of the president from Yerevan, because the economic and social situation calls for speedy government formation,” he said.
Aoun is expected to return from Armenia on Friday.
Rivalry between the two leading Christian parties - the FPM, allied to the Shia Hezbollah movement, and the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces (LF) is widely seen as the main obstacle to a deal.
Hariri said on Thursday the government would be formed within a week to 10 days because the economy could not tolerate further delay, and called on all sides to make concessions.